Teknion introduces the Hoodie Screen, designed to attach to a desk to create a little huddle space that offers privacy yet is still welcoming. The curved canopy references not a piece of furniture or an interior, but a familiar piece of clothing—a cozy hoodie.
The Teknion team wanted to create a product that offered the same sense of ease and relaxation when an individual puts on the outwear. “It really was inspired by that feeling of tucking yourself away, and has the same gesture as when you pull the hood over your head,” said Oona Walsh, director of corporate marketing at Teknion.
Even during the development phase, the screen was playfully dubbed the hoodie. As the piece continued to be refined, Walsh wanted whatever designation they chose to be simple and memorable, and not the typical unrelatable monikers often favored by manufacturers. “Why do product names need to be so abstract? I kept coming back to ‘hoodie’ because it was so true to the product,” she explained. “It was available and able to be used, and we knew it was the name we wanted.”
Every type of plexiglass screen imaginable was highlighted during the pandemic, as people searched for a barrier for protection rather than panels solely for privacy. Now, with the return to the workplace, screens are being created to meet the needs of staff members on hybrid schedules. The Hoodie Screen gives an employee their own compact area, without having to reserve a separate room or step away from their desk. “We wanted to provide that same feeling that an employee has when they are on screen during a meeting in a huddle space. This semi-enclave helps them get there, and it accommodates a wide variety of work styles,” Walsh explained.
With so much emphasis on coming back into the office for in-person connection, there’s been a renewed prioritization of the workplace as the setting for focused, individual work again. Every day might include any combination of tasks, from group to solo activities, usually with a fair amount of both. “It is getting more complicated,” Walsh said. “People wanted to be in the office just for the collaboration, and now they want to get their work done there. The tools are provided and there are less distractions.”
Hoodie Screen complements the overall softness in interiors, from organic shapes of furniture to the plush flooring. There’s an interest in texture to bring a sensory experience indoors, and a reaction to the sleek surfaces that were prevalent for the past few years. Straight, sharp edges have given way to rounded cocoon-like environments that are not as rigid as the cubicles of the past. “Enclosed spaces like pods and phone booths are very linear. Hoodie Screen is a smaller in-between space where you are open and not completely locked away from everyone,” Walsh said.
Technology has been incorporated into the workplace like never before, and Hoodie Screen allows users to work with computers and video conferencing tools without the need for extra space or equipment. With staff working remotely and meeting with colleagues in the office, having an experience that is as seamless as possible is required. Embedded lighting provides even illumination in the all-in-one unit. “You have to consider the integration of a screen,” Walsh explained. “It used to be a tool to work on, but now it is a channel that connects you to another person and allows you to communicate with them. We are considering the lighting, and what the backdrop looks like. All of these little things have changed because of this one different behavior.”
In open offices and team environments, it can be awkward to step away, take a call, or separate from a group. With the Hoodie Screen, there’s a balance between visibility and completely closed that gives employees an awareness of their surroundings and a bit of seclusion when desired. It can help to decrease any anxiety that can come with too much noise or activity during the day. “There’s an excitement, and it is nice to see people again, but it can also be exhausting. The Hoodie Screen is really a collaboration refuge,” Walsh said.
While screens will always be utilized for privacy in the workplace, we are also seeing how as gentle space dividers, they can enhance the look of interiors with color and texture. Made of smooth PET felt (the back is available in laminate) in five shade options, from Sumac to Admiral Blue. “We want our systems to convey warmth, and the different materials allow for brand expression. It brings in the personality,” Walsh noted.
Walsh explained that Teknion’s latest introduction is an example of how screens will continue to evolve, combining functionality and aesthetic value. “It is a response to changing how we work. The office is being used as a high-performance space, and Hoodie adds a comfort factor that is like home.”